Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-04
CORNER LOTS.


sparkled, and tho distant Coronndos
islands and the hills of Mexico fioated in
blac haze before her, Tulita had no
eyes for the pretty picture. Her
mind was occupied with weightior
meters. Perhaps she was not even
aware that she herself made much
pretticr picture with her girlish figure re-
lcaved against tho white adobe house
behind her, and her shapely head poised
on one side, as she critically examined,
with her big dark eyes, each spray of
lavender. She may even have been
unaware that the young man walking on
the other side OF the road was evidently
OF this opinion, although when he made
q misstep into chuck-holc full Of dust,
through having his eyes on her, Tulita's
rosy lips puckered themselves up, and q
suspicious little movement OF her
shouliers suggested tina. she was not en-
tirely ignorant of tho young mans
mishap.
But, as has been said, her mind was
engaged with weighticr matters, and
scarcely youchsaiing a second glance at
the retreating figure OF the young man,
she entered tho white adobe house.
Placing her fragrant load upon table,
she took up an old copy Of 1.-THE
Fashion Guide" which she had left face
downward when she went TO gather
lavender, and consulted it with a studious
frown. Then. going TO chest of draw
ers, she procured some odds aud ends OF
ribbons, and, seating herself with bust
ness-like air, proceeded, with many re-
ferences 10 the instructions, to braid the
sprigs Of lavender together with tho RIB
bons.
"T'heso useful as we'll as ornamental
little articles" the book said, ct the end
OF it's disquisition, "are rapidly hecom-
ing indispensable in every household. In
fact, we know of several young ladies
who derive comfortable income from
the manufacture and sale Of lavender
sticks"
ct don't know" said Tulita to her
self, as she regarded her first effort dis
paragingly "it seems TO me that any
BODY would be fool 20 buy that. But,
then" she continued, more hopefully,
lyon never can tell about these Amcri-
cans.
And, proceeding with her work, she
soon exhausted her lavender and rib
bors. and had instead neat little pile
OF Lavender sticks"
"Madre de Dios !" said Tulita, as
with her chin on her hand she gazed at
the result of her labors, elf that little
mother of mine was to catch me at this
how quickly those things would go out
of the window" and she laughed softly
ut the thought. "Although, she con
tinued, elf she can do sewing for
money, why should not | also work? At
any rate l must have some shoes that
is the truth" And thrusting her foot
out she leaned over tho table to look at
it. 1t was a dainty. slender foot with an
arched instep, but the shoe upon 1t was
Enthusiastically, hopelesSly ragged. "Ah !!
90 hide yourself" said Tulita, severely
"you make me ashamed"
Then, sinking back on Der chair, she
rested her chin on Der hand once more,
and thought: "Ah, if only could make
enough to buy q pair of shoes. And
after awhile tear rolled down her cheek
and fell on the lavender sticks.
But at this moment the click OF the
latch on the garden gate made Tulita
spring to her feet. With a quick move
ment she swept the lavender sticks into
a drawer, and when the newcomer en-
tered the room Tulita was before the
mirror singing 10 herself while she
braided her long hair, which had fallen
as suddenly as a southern night.
"Is it thou, Madre?" she asked.
eyes. il is AL that is left of me-"
said the lady who bad entered, woman
whose still handsome face was lined by
Grief and trouble "Sainted Mother
but it is warm in the sun, she contin-
ned, tanning herself with that indolent,
graceful sweep of the wrist peculiar to
the women of the South. Then, pausing
a moment, she elevated her. head and
said "What is that odor in the house
like sage-brush ?"
"Perhaps il is this bit of lavender, "
said Tulita, hiding her guilty face be-
hind her hair.
"Paugh !" said her mother. alt is
too strong. Throw it away"
And as she obeyed Tulita's heart went
down into her ragged boots at this un-
expected disparagement OF the Odor of
lavender. Sage-brush indeed !" 1t
disheartened her so that the idea of at
tempting TO "derive a comfortable in
come from the manufacture and sale of
lavender sticks was at once dismissed
in scorn. Even the possibility of new
shoes grew very faint.
But with the next mornings sun the
hope and high spirits OF youth returned,
and when Tulita started to walk IN to
San Diego to make some purchases for
her mother, the lavender sticks were
hidden beneath her shabby little black
mantle. Last night, after she had gone
10 bed. she had lain awake for at least an
hour deciding where 10 offer them for
sale. SIENNA & Squills's drugstore was
TIE favored place. 1t was on the princi-
pal street and had fine large windows
full OF fancy goods. Ii would be very
simple matter to walk in and ask them
to sell the sticks for her. Of course shc
would pay them something for their
trouble. Then, too, she had heard that
very morning that there were an unusual
number of eastern tourists III town, and
she hurried her steps so as not to lose
any chances. =,
but Nnen luna C1LhS III SIS1' Va
Senua & Squills's establishment her en-
thusiasm ebbed. She chided herself for
walking so rapidly and getting heated
and out of breath. What would the
people in the store think OF her? Slower
aud slower grew her pace, until, arriving
ia front of har destination, she stopped
and looked at the display OF fancy goods
in the window. The comparison was
not favorable 70 her lavender sticks.
"Perhaps. after all" thought Tulita,
"the idea Of anybody wanting to buy
such things is absurd" Suppose SIENNA
& Sqrills should laugh at her She con-
cluded TO think about it little more,
and walked on.
The further Tulita went, however, the
more her courage returned, until, telling
herself she was behaving ridiculously,
shc resolutely retraced her steps until the
store was once more reached. But again
she paused irresolutely before the win
INV. Then she crossed the street to
look in the window Of bookstore that
might perhaps be better adapted
20 her purpose. Deciding against the
bookstore, she returned 10 the